Authorities in Beijing said Wednesday they plan to get rid of 1,200 high-polluting enterprises by 2015 to improve air quality in the Chinese capital, one of the world's most polluted cities.

The move follows a public backlash over the heavy smog that often envelops Beijing -- sometimes so thick that it delays planes and trains going to and from the city -- sparking health concerns among the general population.

The Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said in a statement it planned to eliminate 1,200 high-polluting facilities such as foundries, chemical plants and furniture factories by 2015.

"Industrial pollution is one of the main factors influencing the air quality in this city," the bureau said. It did not specify whether the enterprises would be shut down or relocated to other areas of the country.

Air quality in the capital has been bad for years, but netizens focused on it late last year after the US embassy started publishing its own pollution readings, which are often alarming.

The embassy measures PM2.5 -- the smallest, most dangerous pollution particles in the air -- and posts the results on a Twitter feed. They often rank as "very unhealthy" or "hazardous".

Beijing's government eventually caved into online pressure and said it would start publishing its own measures of PM2.5, as opposed to basing information on particles of 10 micrometres or larger, known as PM10, which are less harmful.

It has also set up bicycle rental kiosks in the city in a bid to ease traffic congestion -- another source of pollution. Authorities are also mulling new bike lanes.

Peru says 5,000 birds, nearly 900 dolphins deadLima (AFP) May 9, 2012 The Peruvian government said Wednesday that 5,000 birds, mostly pelicans, and nearly 900 dolphins have died off the country's northern coast, possibly due to rising temperatures in Pacific waters.
The country's northern beaches were earlier this week declared off-limits as scientists scrambled to pin down what was causing such a massive toll, with non-government organizations blaming oil exp ... read more

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency.
All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement